Window Shades

Custom window shades are made to fit your window dimensions, with material, lining, and control options that vary by product. The Shade Store offers six shade collections and 1,200+ premium materials, from smooth fabric panels to natural weaves and dimensional folds.

Compare shades by appearance, light control, privacy, and operation, then order our most popular swatches or connect with a Design Consultant for help choosing.

What Is the Difference Between Shades and Blinds?

Window shades use fabric or woven materials that raise and lower to control light and privacy. Blinds use individual slats, typically made from wood, faux wood, or metal, that tilt to adjust light and visibility and generally raise to open the view.

COMPARE TYPES OF WINDOW SHADES

Roller Shades: A Streamlined Fabric Panel

Roller Shades create a smooth backdrop when lowered and roll up at the top of the window when raised. Choose from sheer, light-filtering, and blackout materials in solids, textures, and designer patterns.

Solar Shades: Sun Protection with a View

Solar Shades use open-weave materials to reduce glare and UV exposure while admitting daylight. They suit sun-facing windows where managing brightness and maintaining daytime outdoor visibility are priorities.

Roman Shades: Tailored Fabric Folds

Roman Shades are handcrafted in the USA and bring fabric softness and dimensional folds to the window. Choose from tailored and decorative silhouettes, with lining options to personalize light control and privacy.

Woven Wood Shades: Natural Material and Texture

Woven Wood Shades are handcrafted in the USA using natural, sustainably sourced woods, reeds, bamboo, and grasses. Choose styles that gather into folds or roll up, with distinctive variations in weave, color, and texture.

Cellular Shades: Insulating Honeycomb Cells

Cellular Shades, also known as Honeycomb Shades, feature single- or double-cell fabric construction that traps air to help reduce heat transfer through windows. Explore our energy-efficient window treatments for additional options that support indoor comfort.

Pleated Shades: Two Distinct Constructions

Our Pleated Shades collection groups Cellular Shades and Pleated Roman Shades, also found in their respective collections. Choose Cellular styles for insulating honeycomb construction or Pleated Roman styles for cascading fabric folds.

CHOOSE YOUR BALANCE OF LIGHT AND PRIVACY

Light-Filtering Shades for Living Rooms

Light-filtering shades soften daylight while keeping your room illuminated, making them an option for living rooms where you want natural light. Privacy depends on material opacity and lighting conditions, especially when windows face neighboring homes or public spaces.

Blackout Shades for Bedrooms and Media Rooms

Custom blackout shades reduce incoming light through blackout material or an added lining, making them an option for bedrooms and media rooms. Blackout options are available across several shade collections, including Roller, Roman, Cellular, and select Woven Wood styles. Mounting and gaps around the treatment affect the finished result, so blackout material alone does not guarantee a completely dark room.

Day/Night Cellular Shades combine light-filtering and blackout functionality in one adjustable treatment.

Preserving Outdoor Visibility

Solar Shade openness affects visibility and sun protection. Lower openness percentages generally provide greater UV protection and less transparency; higher percentages allow more visibility through the material.

Solar Shades do not provide reliable nighttime privacy when interior lights are on. Pair them with a privacy-providing shade or functional Drapery when needed. Read our Solar Shades versus Roller Shades comparison for more guidance.

SELECT MATERIALS, LININGS, AND FINISHING DETAILS

Compare swatches near your windows at different times of day to assess color, texture, and transparency against the light.

Roman Shades offer complimentary privacy or blackout lining options. Privacy or blackout lining is also available on Waterfall, Standard, and Cascade Woven Wood Shades. Linings change light transmission while retaining the decorative material facing your room.

Complete the look with finishing details available for your selected shade, including designer metal brackets and sewn-in or exposed bottom bars. A sewn-in bottom bar creates a clean, continuous appearance, while an exposed designer bottom bar adds a decorative accent.

Explore exclusive designer collections and compatible trims, valances and cornices. Your Design Consultant can help coordinate finishes and confirm availability for your selected shade and material.

CHOOSE HOW YOUR SHADES OPERATE

Cordless controls operate without dangling lift cords or chains. Motorization offers convenient adjustment, including at hard-to-reach windows.

Consider how often you will adjust your shades and how easily you can reach them. Control availability varies by product and configuration.

PLAN FOR MEASUREMENT AND INSTALLATION

Inside mounting positions shades within the window frame; outside mounting places them beyond the opening. The appropriate approach depends on window depth, surrounding trim, shade selection, and light-control goals.

Schedule a complimentary design consultation for help comparing shade styles, materials, and mounting options, or request a professional measurement for guidance specific to your windows. In-home measurement is complimentary within our service area; charges may apply outside that area. Installation is available at an additional charge.

If measuring or installing yourself, follow the instructions for your specific product and control type before ordering.

COMPARE WINDOW SHADES IN PERSON

Visit a The Shade Store showroom to compare materials, finishing details, and how different shades operate with a Design Consultant. Ready to explore pricing? Request a free quote for your custom window shades.